Ex-NBA top pick joining Valientes?

The Zamboanga Valientes is reportedly forming a very competitive squad that will represent the country in the 2026 Dubai Invitational Basketball Championship in the United Arab Emirates later this month.

Multiple sources told DAILY TRIBUNE that no less than Anthony Bennett, the top overall pick in the 2013 National Basketball Association Annual Rookie Draft, will spearhead the squad that will serve as the country’s lone representative in the prestigious event that will feature the best club teams in the Middle East.

After getting selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bennett had failed to make an impact as he suffered various injuries that prompted him to bounce around in various leagues in countries like the United States, Turkey, Israel, Taiwan and Bahrain.

“They’re now working on it. The roster will be completed anytime soon,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity so that the Valientes announcement in the coming days will not be preempted.

Bennett will reportedly be joined in the frontline by 7-foot-5 Samuel Deguara and 6-foot-11 Malick Diouf, who played for University of the Philippines before representing the country in the men’s 3x3 basketball event of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

Aside from Bennett, Deguara and Diouf, also in the Valientes radar as former Philippine Basketball Association stars like Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel as well as incoming rookie Jason Brickman.

Romeo is coming off a forgettable season with Terrafirma after his five-year stint with San Miguel Beer while Manuel is fresh from a stint with Converge in the ongoing Philippine Cup. On the contrary, Brickman has yet to play his first professional game in the PBA after being tapped by Meralco in the draft last year.

Also in the Valientes roster are Zamboanga natives Mike Tolomia and Forthsky Padrigao.